sunset from behind the wire

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Those of you who follow Lone Star Parson's blog are familiar with his cuisine and his regular feature, "Cooking with LSP". I was at the compound in Central Texas today and had dinner with LSP so it's just "eating with LSP".

The theme for tonight's ration at the headquarters of the Dallas Light Cavalry (irregular) was 'hamburgers and firepower'.

LSP formed patties and added salt and pepper.

Then he started the fire. He didn't use a flint and steel, resorting to a Bic lighter. I didn't know that things like that were permitted in the compound. LSP said that it was ok so long as you didn't light them in the magazine.

Fixings and a Colt Python (.357 Magnum)

During this entire process, Blue Scout looked on with sincere anticipation for his own personal ration of ground beast.

The finished product, two massive hamburgers and a 4th Generation Glock 21.

The "Religion of Peace" is at it again, but you may not hear much about this one because of the noise created by the race for the US Presidency (and all that means) within the US. Thus, it's being mentioned here for the benefit of those of you who read this blog.

Just to keep things straight, you can't tell the players without a program.

Context and Precedence:Nagorno-Karabakh is a territory in the southern Caucasus between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The dispute over ownership of the territory is unfinished business from the end of the Soviet Union, though the roots of the dispute lie in its demography. Most of the population, probably 75%, is ethnic Armenian and Christian. The ethnic Azeris are Muslims and make up less than 24% of the population.

The region belongs ex officio to Azerbaijan. However, since 1991, it has been de facto self-governing and aligned with Armenia. In 1991, the Armenians held a referendum proclaiming the region as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. A reinvigorated and well-funded Iran is flexing its muscles to help the minority Muslim population to wipe out (or convert) the Christians with whom they have been coexisting peacefully. If that sounds familiar, yeah, it is. Another jihad.

When Armenia and Azerbaijan obtained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, tension of the territory lead to a three-year local war. The war ended in 1994 when the Russians mediated a ceasefire. The ceasefire has held for more than 20 years, marred by periodic small clashes.

The weekend clashes were the worst since 1994. Each side blames the other for starting the fighting, but it is not clear what started the fight.

President Putin has called for the two sides to stop fighting. Russia sells weapons to both, but tends to be pro-Armenia. Turkey is a primary backer of Azerbaijan. An Azerbaijani exclave borders Turkey and is surrounded by Iran and Armenia.

Armenia-Azerbaijan-Nagorno-Karabakh: Clashes continued for a third day. The Armenians said they sustained 20 killed.

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov instructed all troops of the country's Armed Forces to prepare for a major attack on the city of Stepanakert (Xankandi) and other territories "occupied" by Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on 4 April.

"The defense minister has instructed all troops of the Armed Forces, including artillery troops, to be prepared for a major attack on the city of Stepanakert (Xankandi) and other occupied territories, using military hardware, if the enemy [Armenia] does not immediately stop shelling our settlements," said a statement posted on the official website of the Defense Ministry.

"Despite repeated warnings from the Defense Ministry, Armenia leaves no other way to Azerbaijan but take appropriate retaliatory measures in response to its inhuman steps," the statement said.

The defense minister’s statement is both a warning order and a species of information terrorism. During the Armenian-Azerbaijan war in 1992, Azerbaijani artillery destroyed or damaged every building in Stepanakert. The warning order is intended to evoke memories of that destruction.

Housekeeping

As of January 1, 2017 this blog began to receive anonymous posts. I try not to delete them, but if you want to be taken seriously here, you need to identify yourself, if only by some sort of cryptonym.

Welcome to Virtual Mirage

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.

"Oh, you can't help that," said the cat. "We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad."

"How do you know I'm mad," asked Alice?

"You must be," said the cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

Good Morning

Virtual Mirage - What's on the other side of the mirror? Ask Alice how deep the rabbit hole really goes.

This blog is an extension of MY JOURNEY because sometimes my journey needs more explanation, and sometimes there is more to be said than can be expressed on one ordinary blog.

Sometimes it's politics (very serious), sometimes I address the human condition with a dose of humor, and other times it may seem as if the track is headed in a unique direction. I can be a complicated guy at times.

There are a few things you'll find I consider:

* Absence of proof is not proof of absence.

* Sometimes the questions are complex but the answers are simple.

* Love is the only condition where the happiness of another person is essential to your own.

* Steers do not sign treaties with meat packers. (think on that)

* Taxes are NEVER levied for the benefit of the taxed.

* The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no victory possible in defense.

WHITE POWDER (Novel)

There is something intoxicating about a secret.

THE OLD WHORE (NOVEL)

In the peculiar culture of the Central Intelligence Agency, "old whores" are people who will do whatever it takes to get the job done, irrespective of the cost.

EXILES FROM EDEN (NOVEL)

Sparks fly as two star-crossed lovers meet. He runs toward trouble as she yearns for something missing. And it ends in a flight from and toward justice.

About Me

Today, I balance work and play as much as anyone can. All things remaining equal, play is more important. Life is short - it's important to make every day count for something, if only to yourself.
I'm a former tinker/tailor/soldier/sailor who has now decided that maybe it really wasn't all done for nothing.

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